{{Short description|American politician from Michigan (1949–2025)}} {{Infobox officeholder |name = Don Koivisto |native_name = |native_name_lang = |colorcode = <!-- HTML color code (e.g. red, #FF0000 or affiliated Party metadata color template) or transparent for no coloring --> |image = <!--If this is specified, "image" should not be.--> |alt = |caption = |order = |office = Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture |term_start = September 5, 2007 |term_end = December 31, 2010 |governor = Jennifer Granholm |predecessor = Mitch Irwin |successor = Keith Creagh | state_senate2 = Michigan | district2 = 38th | term_start2 = November 13, 1990 | term_end2 = December 31, 2002 | predecessor2 = Joseph Mack | successor2 = Michael Prusi | state_house3 = Michigan | district3 = 110th | term_start3 = January 1, 1981 | term_end3 = December 31, 1986 | predecessor3 = Russell Hellman | successor3 = Richard A. Sofio |birth_date = {{birth date|1949|08|18}} |birth_place = Ironwood, Michigan, U.S. |death_date = {{death date and age|2025|10|07|1949|08|18}} |death_place = Traverse City, Michigan, U.S. |citizenship = |party = Democratic |relations = |children = |alma_mater = Central Michigan University |occupation = |profession = |cabinet = |committees = |portfolio = |signature = |signature_alt = |website = |footnotes = }}
'''Donald W. Koivisto''' (August 18, 1949 – October 7, 2025) was an American Democratic politician from the state of Michigan.<ref>1985-1986 Michigan Manual: [http://legislature.mi.gov/documents/1985-1986/michiganmanual/1985-MM-P0139-P0163.pdf State Representative Donald W. Koivisto]</ref>
== Political career == Koivisto was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 1980. During his time there, he chaired the Agriculture Committee and helped write the state's right-to-farm act.<ref>{{cite web|last=Freedman|first=Eric|title=Ag Industry Holds Promise Despite Shaky Economy|url=http://domemagazine.com/blogs/koivisto|work=Dome Magazine}}</ref><ref>[http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?mcl-act-93-of-1981 Michigan Legislature: Public Act 93 of 1981]</ref> In 1990, Koivisto was elected a Michigan State Senator from the 38th district, succeeding Joe Mack, who had represented much of the Upper Peninsula since 1960. Koivisto served as state senator until 2003 when he was term-limited. In August 2007, the Michigan Commission of Agriculture appointed Koivisto as Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture.<ref>[http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/kochendorfer-kolski.html#405.52.13 Koivisto, Donald W.: The Political Graveyard]</ref><ref>[http://www.michigan.gov/mda/0,1607,7-125-1572_3628-174032--,00.html "Agriculture Commission Names Donald Koivisto As New State Agriculture Director"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071221134012/http://www.michigan.gov/mda/0,1607,7-125-1572_3628-174032--,00.html |date=December 21, 2007 }} MDA Press Release, August 13, 2007</ref>
==Death== Koivisto died of complications from Parkinson's disease on October 7, 2025, at the age of 76. Flags were lowered at the Michigan State Capitol in his honor on October 21.<ref>{{cite news |title=Governor Whitmer lowers flags to honor former state legislator |url=https://www.wilx.com/2025/10/21/governor-whitmer-lowers-flags-honor-former-state-legislator/ |access-date=25 October 2025 |publisher=Wilx10 |date=21 October 2025}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Koivisto, Don}} Category:1949 births Category:2025 deaths Category:People from Ironwood, Michigan Category:Central Michigan University alumni Category:Democratic Party members of the Michigan House of Representatives Category:Democratic Party Michigan state senators Category:State cabinet secretaries of Michigan Category:21st-century members of the Michigan Legislature Category:20th-century members of the Michigan Legislature Category:Deaths from Parkinson's disease in Michigan